Sonstiges » after sitting out last year as a transfer from Ole Mi

DETROIT -- Jay Gruden would like to see his defense produce more turnovers. As long as that unit remains stingy about giving up points, the Washington Redskins coach isnt going to fret over the lack of takeaways.The Redskins (4-2) forced only one turnover over the last two games but they havent allowed an offensive touchdown over the last seven quarters.That allowed them to extend their winning streak to four games.They will be seeking their first five-game streak since 2012 when they play at Detroit on Sunday.Its been good, Gruden said of his defense. The first two victories, we got a lot of takeaways and gave up a lot of yards. The last two weeks, we havent given up a lot of yards but we havent gotten any takeaways.Imagine what we could do if we dont give up a lot of yards and we get takeaways. Wed be pretty good. But Im happy with the way theyre playing. Were not giving up big plays, momentum-swinging type plays.Many Redskins fans werent happy with the play of quarterback Kirk Cousins during the first two games. The catcalls have quieted somewhat during the winning streak, in which Cousins has thrown eight touchdowns and three interceptions.One of those turnovers was returned for a touchdown by Philadelphia last Sunday but the Redskins still emerged with a 27-20 victory.Washington achieved offensive balance in that game, rolling up 493 total yards, and hope that trend continues. Matt Jones led three running backs who combined for 231 rushing yards with a career-high 135 on 16 carries.If we can put up 500 yards of offense 16 times, wed be a pretty good offense, said Cousins, the former Michigan State star who will be playing in his home state for the first time as a pro.Theres always going to be plays where you feel like you could have had 600 yards of offense or 700 yards of offense, but we did some good things. We ran the ball well and made the plays we had to make but were always going to go back and say, How can we be better?The Redskins can get off to a 3-0 start on the road for the first time since 1999 with a win. Theyre also shooting for their sixth straight road victory, something they havent done since 1991.They hope tight end Jordan Reed can return after missing the Eagles game with a concussion.Detroit (3-3), which will complete a stretch of three home games, has won two straight on late field goals by Matt Prater.Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who will be playing in his 100th career game, has thrown seven touchdown passes over the last two games while completing 75 percent of his passes without an interception.Staffords 14 touchdown passes tie him for third place in the league but he shrugs off praise over his recent outings.Its the same way I feel when people say Im terrible and Im the reason were losing; I dont pay too much attention to it, he said. Were winning games because we have talented players on this team.On the offensive side of the ball, my job is just to get the ball in their hands and let them go. Theyve been doing that the last couple of weeks.The Lions required fourth-quarter comebacks in all of their victories, which Stafford considers a mental edge.Were a tested team, he said. We havent come out on the right end of all those, like we wish we could have, but thats what the NFL is all about. Games come down to the fourth quarter a majority of the time.No question wed like to be up 21 in the fourth quarter of every game but it doesnt happen that way. There are evenly-matched teams in this league and youve got to go out there and make the plays to win the game.Detroit hopes that its No. 1 running back, Theo Riddick, will return this week after missing the 31-28 victory over Los Angeles last Sunday with an ankle injury.The teams havent played since 2013, when the Lions pulled out a 27-20 victory. Adidas Stan Smith Sale Nz . PETERSBURG, Fla. Stan Smith Shoes Nz .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. http://www.clearancestansmithnz.com/ .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Adidas Stan Smith Clearance Nz . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Adidas Stan Smith Mens Nz . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Rick Stockstill insists what happens Saturday wont determine how the rest of the season goes for his Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.For the Vanderbilt Commodores, it certainly could.The Commodores blew a 10-point lead in losing their season opener to South Carolina, and now they host an in-state rival Saturday whose home is about 40 miles southeast of Nashville. Middle Tennessee rebounded from a loss to Vanderbilt last season to reach the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, while the Commodores finished 4-8.After opening the season with two straight home games, Vanderbilts schedule gets much tougher with road trips to Georgia Tech and Western Kentucky before diving back into the Southeastern Conference to host Florida.Our motivation is right in front of us, Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. We need to play well.Vanderbilt leads this series 13-3 but needed two touchdowns in the final 6 minutes, 14 seconds to pull out a 17-13 win that ended a three-game skid to Middle Tennessee now in Conference USA. Now the Blue Raiders (1-0) are coming off a 55-0 rout of Alabama A&M with quarterback Brent Stockstill having thrown five touchdowns and trying to start 2-0 for the first time since 2001.Absolutely I think this is a big game, Vanderbilt linebacker and safety Oren Burks said. Anytime you have an in-state opponent where you have bragging rights ... Were ready to go out and compete.---Some things to watch Saturday afternoon:RUN DEFENSE: Middle Tennessee is very familiar with Vanderbilt junior running back Ralph Webb who beat the Blue Raiders by running 39 yards for a TD with 1:12 left. Webb ran for 97 yards in the opener for Vandy and now has a complement in converted linebacker Khari Blasingame as Vandy ran 42 times against South Carolina. Rick Stockstill notes Middle Tennessee played Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry at Alabama laast season.dddddddddddd. Hes going to break arm tackles, so you cant do that, the Middle Tennessee coach said.PROTECT THE FOOTBALL: Vanderbilt has no turnovers, something the Commodores did only twice last season when they finished with 25 turnovers. Middle Tennessee was intercepted twice in its opener, something the Commodores are working on defensively after breaking up so many passes last season.WHOS CATCHING: Stockstill completed his first 22 passes, a nice accomplishment considering how injuries have decimated the Blue Raiders receiving corps. They lost three receivers to injuries this preseason with Demetrius Frazier was hurt in the first quarter of the opener. Richie James caught a team-high eight passes for 73 yards for a team that moved running back Desmond Anderson to receiver in August and freshman Tyshawn Brown from safety to a week before the opener.TACKLING MACHINE: Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham has picked up where he left off last season. He finished 2015 with at least 10 tackles in the final four games, and he had a game-high 12 against South Carolina. He will be tested by Middle Tennessee running back Itavius Mathers, whos playing after sitting out last year as a transfer from Ole Miss.QB RHYTHM: Mason says Kyle sophomore Shurmur remains Vandys starting quarterback after he was 8 of 22 for 73 yards in the opener. Shurmur could use some help from his receivers because C.J. Duncan is the only player at that position to catch more than one pass in the opener. Webb was the top target with three receptions.---Online:AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org and AP-Top 25 Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '